Events Outlook

Throughout the year we organize a myriad of events to keep you recharged for your research and connected with your peers. General details on regular events are posted below, with details updated when available. Subscribe on the calendar page to know the schedule when we do.

ORIENTATION AND PUB

Come out to meet your fellow graduate students on September 5th! Mingle with the rest of the incoming first year students, find out about the courses offered in the department from the faculty themselves, meet the members of the Immunology Graduate Student Association (IGSA), and discover the many ways that you can become involved in the department’s student life. Be sure to introduce yourself to Kate, our amazing Administrative Assistant. If this isn’t exciting enough, a pub somewhere (details TBA) with the rest of the students in the department will follow to start everyone out on the right foot.

Monthly Pubs

These pubs are organized roughly once a month and are a great way to relax, laugh, and swap funny stories with your departmental pals. Typical conversations include possible future careers (that hopefully pay more than minimum wage), important student issues (who’s the poorest?!), and may even be science-related (you’ve tried standardizing that how many times?!). Whether downtown or uptown, the locations are always close to TTC routes for an easy way there and a responsible way home.

Pumpkin Carving

Halloween Party

The Halloween party is an interdepartmental event encouraging graduate students from many disciplines at U of T to socialize together on this fun night. Dress up in a costume for your chance to win a prize. Impersonations of supervisors within the department are strongly encouraged!

Wine and Cheese

Who says grad students aren’t sophisticated? It’s time to get classy at the wine and cheese, another great social event inspired by alcohol (and this time accompanied by a food group – cheese!). Sample some wine and help us decide which one should be served at the upcoming holiday party.

Holiday Party

This one’s a biggy! One of the department’s most entertaining events, the holiday party takes place in the Great Hall of Hart House. Join almost 250 others to celebrate that special time of year. Bring your lab’s centerpiece and peruse the competition during the cocktail hour. Test your luck with one of the many games set up in the foyer or place a bid at the silent auction for a great prize. All proceeds go to Nellie’s shelter, a haven that provides help to women and children in need. You can also contribute to this amazing cause by bringing a toy for their toy drive. Then sit back and enjoy a superb dinner accompanied by speeches and all the skits that your fellow students could muster. This could be your year to win the departmental award you’ve always dreamed of. Buy your tickets early from one of the social reps and join us to eat, laugh, and dance the night away!

Skating

What’s more Canadian than outdoor skating in -20°C weather? Head out to the Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West) with the rest of the Immunology department for a great night on the ice. If you don’t own skates, don’t worry – the rink has any size available to rent. If you’re trying to learn, there’s plenty of help in the department to keep you on your skates. Once we can’t feel our toes anymore, we’ll head indoors to warm up and have some drinks.

Games Night

Enjoy a weeknight full of fun and games! The immunology games night raises money for Nellie’s shelter, a haven that provides help to women and children in need. Past entertainment has included a poker tournament, billiards, cranium, jenga, and rockband. So come out and have a great time while supporting an amazing cause!

Skiing

It's time for the annual interdepartmental Blue Mountain ski trip! Students, staff, and friends are all welcome to attend this year's event whether you’re a skier, a snowboarder, or a complete novice. After some fun on the hills, join us for drinks and snacks in one of the chalets. Buses will leave MSB (1 King's College Circle) at 7 am and will return at approximately 7 pm.

St. Patty’s

This is the one day of the year, redheaded with freckles or not, that everyone is Irish! St. Patty’s is one of IGSA’s most attended events so be sure not to miss the celebrations. After finishing up your experiments, head to the pub where we’ll have a huge section reserved for the department. Celebrations go late into the night so plan experiments for the next day with caution!

CN Tower Stair Climb

Get ready to work off some of those winter pounds for a great cause, the World Wildlife Fund, as you team up with others in the department to reach the top. Feel the burn in your quads as you curse your way up 140+ flights of stairs. If it seems to be too much, continue to reassure yourself that you’re saving pandas with every step. Be sure to refuel with the rest of the group with a bite to eat at a nearby restaurant once you’re done!

Bowling

IGSA’s annual bowling event is held at the Newtonbrook Bowlerama (5837 Yonge Street) so come on out for a great time and bowl a perfect game. Snacks and drinks are on IGSA!

Blue Jays Game

If you remember the glory days of the early 90’s – Joe Carter rounding the bases and Roberto Alomar’s gold glove – then this one’s for you! Put on your blue face paint, head to the dome where IGSA will cover the cost of your ticket (while they last), and enjoy a night with Toronto’s most successful sports team. A pub will follow after the game to celebrate the Jays’ victory, or commiserate their loss.

Immunology Retreat

Do not miss the annual departmental retreat! This may be the biggest event of the year, spanning two days in beautiful Geneva Park. Enjoy talks by the amazing professors and post-docs in the department. Be sure to peruse the poster session where you and your fellow graduate students will proudly display your recent “progress”. And rest assured that you will have plenty of time to enjoy everything the park has to offer including swimming, hiking, and sports fields. Buses will leave from King’s Circle outside of MSB bright and early at 9am and depart from Geneva Park the following day in the late afternoon.

Election Pub

This annual pub is held at Toby’s Famous Eatery (411 College Street) and revolves around the vote to establish a new IGSA executive for the following year. There are many jobs to be filled, and everyone is encouraged to run! Come out to enjoy some drinks and cast your ballot. Voting can also be done by email for those unable to make it to the pub. Go democracy!

Boat Cruise

The boat cruise is an amazing interdepartmental event where we board the party boat for a fun-filled cruise around Toronto harbour! Hang out with your immunology pals, meet new students from other departments, and bring your dancing shoes while you cruise around Lake Ontario.

Picnic

The picnic is the last immunology event of the year, held annually in August. Come hungry and thirsty for lots of barbequed meat and beverages! Enjoy a volleyball game and toast the end of the summer with your immunology pals